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Meares Island
The Clayoquot Sound region of British Columbia has received international attention due to conflicts over local land-use practises. Since the late 1990's, local First Nations and communities have been seeking ways to build bridges and develop new models of sustainable development and conservation.
One of these models was the creation of a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Biosphere Reserve in Clayoquot Sound.
All reserves have legally protected core areas (which give long-term protection to landscapes and ecosystems), buffer zones (where some resource extraction can take place, as long as it does not undermine the objectives of the core areas), and transition zones or zones of cooperation (where people work together to use the area’s resources in a sustainable manner).
In January 2000, with the support of local First Nations, communities, and the federal and provincial governments, Clayoquot Sound became designated as the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (CSUBR). The CSUBR is a member of the international network of UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves. The CSUBR designation acknowledges aboriginal title and rights, and does not prejudice ongoing treaty negotiations.
To mark this designation, in May 2000 the federal government made a $12 million grant to the communities through the creation of the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, the organization who's mandate it is to manage this endowment fund and uphold the spirit and intent of the Biosphere Reserve designation.
In 1991, the Clayoquot Biosphere Project was formed and was the first organization to seriously float the idea of a Biosphere Reserve for Clayoquot Sound. Soon after, the Clayoquot Sound Central Region Board also expressed interest in the idea.
A nomination working group developed the formal nomination and consulted with local people and stakeholders on the proposed designation through a series of public forums and workshops. The working group represented the Nuu-chah-nulth Central Region First Nations — the Ahousaht, Hesquiaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Toquaht, and Ucluelet-- the District of Tofino, District of Ucluelet and Area C of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. The Central Region Board, environmental organizations and private sector interests also supported the nomination process. People with diverse interests and concerns came together to prepare the UNESCO nomination that would build support and ensure a sustainable future for the 5000+ people of the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve Region. The nomination was funded and facilitated through this nomination working group, with strong financial support coming from federal and provincial government bodies. The federal and provincial governments fully supported the nomination process and committed significant resources to bring the dream to a reality.
On January 21st, 2000, UNESCO officially designated the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve. On May 5, 2000, representatives of First Nations, local governments, the Governments of Canada and the Province of British Columbia, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) were joined by residents and guests from around the world to officially commemorate the designation of Clayoquot Sound as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien was in attendance to celebrate and announce a $12 million federal grant for an endowment fund for the communities in the Clayoquot Sound region.
Clayoquot Biosphere Trust
PO Box 67
Tofino, British Columbia
Canada V0R 2Z0
Phone 250-725-2219 (Tofino) 250-726-2086 (Ucluelet)
Fax 250-725-2384 (Tofino) 250-726-2087 (Ucluelet)
www.clayoquotbiosphere.org